Mail-bag catcher.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

W. ROBINSON; MAIL BAG GATO'HE'R. APPL I OATION IILED J'UNB 23, 1908.

Wit eases 'To all whom it may concern:-

side of the track.

i? STAES WlLLIAM ROBINSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

or OTTUMWA, IOWA.

train-nae cnrcrrsn.

Patented Sept. 8, mos.

Be it known that 1, ILLIAM ROB'IN'SON, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-

sidin at Ottumwa, in the county of Wapello and tate of Iowa, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to mail bag catchers, and one of the principalobjects of the same is to provide a simple device for delivering mailbags which will not be liable to get out of order and which will bereliable and efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suspension device forholding amail bag in a suspended position, said suspending device comrising two jaws connected by a spring so t at the jaws may be opened todischarge the mail when the device is struck by the receiver atithestation.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,-

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a mail car, showing a delivery cranehinged toa post inside the door of a car and adapted to be swung out ofthe door to suspend a mail bag in position to be struck by a receiver atthe Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the receiver. Fig. 3 is ado tail elevation and partial section of a sus pending device forsuspending the mail bag.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1' designates a mail car providedwith a door opening 2. and a vertical post or upright 3 Within the car.Hinged at 4 to the post 3 is a crane 5 having a diagonal brace bar 6.Connected to the outer end'of the bar *6 is a bracket, and pivoted tosaid bracket is the suspending device consisting of the two memhead 11formed on the end of a rod 12, the lower endof which is enlarged, as at13, and permanently connected to the mail bag 14.

The mail ba receiver consists of a housin having an inciined 'floor 15and an incline projecting roof 16 having a V-shaped recess 12 anddisconnecting the mail bag from the members 7. A receptacle 18 isprovided for out-going mail bags. 4

The operation of briefly described as follows :'When the bag 14: is tobe delivered at a station, the same is connected by means of the angularhead 11 vice. When thus suspended the bag is swung out of the car doorin position to be struck by the wall of the top of the receiver, theresult being that the suspension rod 12 'is carried out of the jaws 10,and themail bag clined floor 15.

My invention is of a simple character, can be made andinstalled atslight cost and cannot readily get out of order.

a 1. A mail bag support comprising at lever pivoted to an upright'inthe'car, jaws pivoted spring, a headed bar connected to a mail bag andengaged by said ]LW$, and a receiver probar and deposit thebag.

oted to a bracket, a spring for connecting said ported by said jaws.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ROBINSON. Witnesses:

A. 0. June, WALTER ROBINSON.

17 formed therein forengaging the element my invention may. be-

engaging the jaws 10 of the suspending de-' 2. In amail bag catcher,apair of jaws piv-.

8O jaws, in combination with a headed rod con-' nected to a mail bag,the head'belng supis deposited within the housing upon the into saidlever, said jaws-beingconnected by a vided with a recess in. its roof tostrike said

